author

George William Askinson

A practical voice from the late 19th century, this author wrote detailed guides that opened up the craft of perfumery and cosmetic making for working manufacturers as well as curious readers. His books stand out for turning a specialized trade into clear, usable instruction.

1 Audiobook

Perfumes and their preparation : Containing complete directions for making handkerchief perfumes, smelling-salts, sachets, fumigating pastils; preparations for the care of the skin, the mouth, the hair; cosmetics, hair dyes, and other toilet articles

Perfumes and their preparation : Containing complete directions for making handkerchief perfumes, smelling-salts, sachets, fumigating pastils; preparations for the care of the skin, the mouth, the hair; cosmetics, hair dyes, and other toilet articles

by George William Askinson

About the author

Little biographical information about George William Askinson is easy to confirm today, but surviving library and public-domain records show him as the author of technical books on perfumery, cosmetics, fats, and oils. His work belongs to the world of practical industrial handbooks rather than literary fiction, and it reflects a strong interest in how everyday products were actually made.

Askinson is best known for Perfumes and Their Preparation and Perfumes and Cosmetics: Their Preparation and Manufacture. These books explain ingredients, methods, and manufacturing processes in a direct, useful way, covering everything from aromatic substances and scent blending to toilet articles and cosmetic preparations.

That practical spirit is part of what makes his writing interesting now. Even when the science and trade language feel rooted in another era, his books offer a vivid look at how fragrance and cosmetic production were understood in the late 1800s and early 1900s, making them valuable to readers interested in craft history, old technical knowledge, and the early beauty industry.